Hi Hawke:

I really hope that I could do something for you and I believe so.
Sometimes personality and the certain historical background may become the
barrier in the life.  Whatever VOC said  to you doesn't matter, as long as
you are willing to overcome the problem.

When I was in China, there was no education for the blind after 8th grade.
I visited several high schools there applyijng for entrence, but I was
always denied.  The only reason was that I could not see the blackboard.
That's why I had to study most of the high school and college courses by
myself.  When you are expecting a high tech training and a good job, you
should first think what you can give up.  There is no free lunch.  So try
it again!  I will definitely pray for you.

You can also write to me personally if you think of anything I can help
you with.
Love
Ren


On Wed, 27 Jan 1999, Hawke wrote:

> Tom, and others.
> Guys, pardon if it sounds like I am venting, but below is an example of my
> horror story.
>
> Well, you are hearing from at least one. I have been trying to become
> gainfully employed over the last year (so far, with no success). I am forced
> to live on a paltry $520.00 per month (my rent takes $400.00 of that
> immediately). After I get done paying the phone and utilities, I am in the
> hole by $100.00 (in other words, I ahve to juggle bills every month).
>
> I feel like people in general are not willing to take me seriously. I get the
> attitude that things should be done for me (I have no say in the process), and
> that I should just sit back and be the "good little blind guy". I DON'T THINK
> SO!
>
> My file with vocational rehabilitation has a number of notes in it indicating
> the following (from several caseworkers over the years);
> 1. individual is "out of touch with reality, and may require psychological
> counselling"
> 2. individual is uncooperative
> 3. individual has a poor attitude
> 4. individual has poor social skills
> 5. individual has shown a lack of responsibility for his actions
>
> And here's the kicker!;
> 6 individual is a whistleblower (yes, my file actually had this in it!).
>
> The basic impression I get from the Voc. Rehab system here in Arizona is that
> I should do what they feel is best for me, not what I am already qualified
> for! It was also noted in my file that I refused to learn braille (funny
> that!). At the time, I was in classes to learn braille at the Az.Inductries
> for the blind! It was discovered that I suffer additional sensory difficulties
> (dyslexia) and am unable to learn Braille (they did not mention this anywhere
> in my file, but I have the written opinion of 3 medical specialists in my
> possession which indicates otherwise!
>
> Basically, the State Voc Rehab Administration has been trying to make me look
> like a mallingering, goldbricking client who wants nothing more than to sit
> back and collect welfare. I wish that were so, then I'd make up excuses all
> day long. Fact is, I want to work, in my trained field of expertice (computer
> information systems and accounting).
>
> I am sure there are quite a few blind (and V.I.) folks who don't have access
> to the world wide web (or computer technology for that matter) and are going
> through very similar problems. On top of everything else, they may have had
> their rights violated in similar manners and don't even realize it.  This
> along with the attitude from Voc rehab that one must first have a job before
> being issued assistive devices (what a crock! most places will not hire unless
> you already have equipment AND training in hand) make life extremely difficult
> for us all.
>
>
> Sure, some have had better luck than others, or have bowed to pressure to take
> whatever is presented (though not necessarily what the person is skilled
> for).  Frankly, the system is going to need a lot of changes. Until we, as a
> community, are taken seriously, the above will be more commonplace than not.
>
> Hawke
>
> Tom Fowle wrote:
>
> > I believe lots of blind and otherwise disabled folks in this country
> > are in the same boat, but we just don't hear about em cause they'r ehidden
> > away on reduced welfare in back rooms.
> > Tom
> >
> > VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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>
>
> VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
> To join or leave the list, send a message to
> [log in to unmask]  In the body of the message, simply type
> "subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
>  VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
> http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html
>


VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask]  In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
 VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html